Daniel Pedersen

Mizzima

By Bern Smith

  Mae Sot, Thailand

August 15, 2010

With the closure of the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge near Mae Sot, truck inner tubes are currently the only way for Burmese migrant workers to cross the Moei River to Thailand. But the bridge does open, under cover of darkness and to those who pay enough. Photo: AFP

The Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge, spanning the Moei River between Mae Sot and Myawaddy, is open – at the right price and under the cover of darkness.

Thai traders in Mae Sot have told Mizzima that trucks laden with goods can pass over the bridge if the right people are paid the right money.

Shipments must be arranged via Democratic Karen Buddhist Army commander Chit Thu and Thai authorities must be paid, the traders said, on condition of anonymity.

The bridge was closed by Burma in early July, allegedly because of moves by Thailand to construct a wall along its side of the river, beefing up security along the international border.

The Tak Chamber of Commerce has since demanded the Thai government intervene and negotiate with the Burmese, claiming 20 days of closure had cost Thailand revenue of 20 billion baht.

Thai promises to supply construction materials and pay labour costs to build a structure on the Burmese side initially seemed to have healed the rift between the two neighbours.

But then, say Thai business sources, the Burmese side upped the ante, demanding 50 new trucks also be handed over as part of the deal to re-open the bridge.

It seems Thai pragmatism and the desire by the DKBA to make money to supply its bitterly-divided fighting force has since spurred new arrangements.

Now shipments can pass across the Friendship Bridge late at night, or as Thai sources say, “always about midnight”.

Thai authorities are now charging an extra baht per kilogram for goods passing across the bridge, making the total 21 baht per kilogram.

Thai businessmen said with breakaway elements of the DKBA fighting against the Burma Army, the Karen militia’s need for money was greater than ever.

The Karen National Liberation Army’s Colonel Nerdah Mya confirmed smuggling activities were occurring, but said it was not the DKBA behind the operation.

He said certainly such movements across the bridge in the dead of night would have to be approved by Chit Thu but, “You must remember that Chit Thu has already signed an agreement with the SPDC, he is SPDC.”

Colonel Nerdah said the movements across the unmanned bridge were not political, but rather “people just trying to make money”.

But the facts are inescapable.

The SPDC ordered the bridge closed in protest against a Thai plan to bolster security along its international border.

In what could only be considered bilateral blackmail, Burmese authorities then demanded construction materials and money from the Thais to reopen the bridge.

The Tak Chamber of Commerce then supplied the cement and promised to pay labour costs for the Burmese to build their own wall along their side of the Moei River.

But the bridge remains closed, and the SPDC, troops of which have vice-like control of Myawaddy, is now allowing illicit illegal international trade across the bridge.

ENDS